Composition of matter for and method of generating hydrogen.



UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANS EOEBSTERIiING 'AND HERBERT PHILIPP,- OF PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY, AS-

SIGNORS TO THE ROESSLER & HASSLACHER CHEMICAL 60., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMPOSITION OF MATTER FOR AND METHOD OI GENERATING HYDROGEN. I

977,442. mi Drawing.

' Toallwhomitmayconcem:

Be it lmown that we, Hans Fonas'rnnnma, a subject of the Emperor of German and HERBERT PHILIPP, a subject of the Kmg of Great Britain, both residing at Perth Amboy, Middlesex county, New Jersey, have 1nvented a certain new and useful Composition of Matter .for and Method of Generating -Hydrogen, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a composition of matter which, in the presence of a suitable 'quid, will react therewith to generate hydrogen gas. It is well known that alkali metals generate hydrogen. in contact with water and in United States Patent No. 883,531, we have shown one way of generating hydrogen from an alkali metal, such as sodium for example,

without danger. It is also well known that metallic silicids, such as for instance, calcium silicid, generate hydro en by reactlon with alkali hydroxids, as for instance caustic soda, according to the following equation:

In order to generate hydrogen from 'silicids it is however necessary to heat the canstic solution by steam or fuel.

We have found a new composition of matter for generating hydrogen which does not require any means of heating and which generates hydrogen instantly when brought in contact with aqueous or other suitable liquid solutions. 1

- Our invention is based upon the fact that alkali metals when brought in contact with water set freehydrogen forming-alkali hydroxids and generate a certain amount of heat. We utilize both the so-formed alkali hydroxid as well as the developed heat "units Specification of Letters latent. Application filed A li-114, 1910. Serial No. 558,263.

Patented Dec. 6,1910.

of t e mixture without any further binder.

These briquets when reacted upon by water or other suitable liquid generate hydrogen ve rapidly.

e have found that the commercial prod- -uct of aluminium silicid sical, comes pretty close to the formula Al i containing some iron and titanium as impurities. We have further found that 1 kilo of a mixture containing 0.5 kilo sical and 0.5 kilo sodium generates 700 liters of hydrogen. The reaction takes place according to the-following equation:

As the best way of generating hydrogen -lar alkali metals or silicids, such as sical and sodium for instance, or to the particular method of generating hydrogen therefrom as'described. v

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A composition of matter for generating hydrogen containing an alkali metal and a silicid.

- 2. A, composition of matter for generatin h dro en an d' a s iliciil.

3. A composition ofmatter for generating hydrogen containing sodium and aluminium silicid. p

4. A composition of matter for eneratin hydrogen comprising a mixture 0 an alk 1 metal and a silicid.

containing metallic sodium 5. A composition of matter for generating hydrogen comprising a mixture of metallic sodium and a silicid.

6. A composition of matter for generating r and a uminium silicid.

7. A method of generating hydrogen consisting in reacting an a ueous solution with an alkali metal and a silicid.

8. A method of generating hydrogen consistin in reacting an a ueous solutionwith meta 'c sodium and a s' icid. v

9. A method of generating hydrogen con.- sistin in reacting an aqueous solution with meta ic sodium and aluminium silicid.

. 10. A method of generating hydrogen i eonsistin in reacting water with an alkali metal an a silicid.

11. A method, of generating hydro en consisting in reacting water with metallic sodium and aluminium silicid.

13. -A method of generating hydro en consistin in reactin an alkali metal an a silicid w1th a suitab e liquid. 7

14. A method of generating hydrogen consisting in reactin silicid w1th a suitab e liquid.

15. A method of generating hydrogen consisting in reactin metallic sodium and aluminium silicid wit a suitable liquid.

In testimony whereof we have signed this.

metallic sodium and a specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- HANS FOERSTERLING. HERBERT PHILIPP. Witnesses:

L. M. Rossx, EMm KANS. 

